by Geli Cake
"Be careful of strangers when you're outside, and don't accept anything from them."
"Come on, really? I'm a stranger to someone too, you know."
"This kid, talking back to an adult!"
I got hit again for needlessly speaking up.
More conditions keep getting added. Be careful, don't get hurt by being reckless, never go near monsters alone, no matter what, and make sure to write and send a letter at least once a month…?
'A letter….'
If I said I couldn't send one, they wouldn't let me go. I figured I should at least say I would and nodded.
Leaving the mercenary group was settled. The real problem was something else.
I whispered to Odin in a small voice,
"But what if Haylan kicks me out when I get there?"
"...You'll have to handle that yourself."
"I guess so."
I'll do my best…
I mumbled without an ounce of confidence.
We had to leave immediately before my colleagues changed their minds. Odin watched with a strange expression as I packed my bag.
"Just how many older brothers1 do you have?"
"Huh?"
I was busy stuffing all my winter clothes into my bag and didn't properly hear what Odin was saying. But he seemed like the type who wouldn't repeat himself. He instructed me with an exasperated look,
"Just pack your things. We need to leave this place immediately before they interrogate us further."
Oh, yes sir….
I moved my hands faster to avoid causing him any more trouble.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
It took about half a day by train to reach Haylan's mansion from the city where the mercenary group was based.
I officially left the city, seen off by my colleagues. For some reason, someone burst into tears upon seeing me board the train, and while trying to comfort them, I teared up a little myself.
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The train rattled as it left my city. I pressed a cold bottled drink against my eyelids, rolling it back and forth to reduce the swelling.
"What?! Mei's Magic Item Shop is one of the three famous attractions of Asileth?Why?"
"...They have a particularly famous item."
Odin hesitated and mumbled vaguely. I had a pretty good idea of what that famous item was.
'It's adult toys, isn't it?'
That small shop is now a famous attraction of the city?! I was still dumbfounded to hear that it was famous enough to even trade with the largest trading company in the empire.
"Is that special item something like the Ogre No. 2?"
Pfft! Odin, who had been expressionless, suddenly spat out the water he was drinking. Then, his eyes widened and asked me,
"How do you know about that?"
"I'm close with Mei."
I couldn't bring myself to reveal that I was the function developer, so I just gave a plausible excuse.
"She said she recently started developing the Ogre No. 3."
"...."
"Since it's number 3, she said she'll only produce 3,000 units and sell them as a limited edition."
I subtly added a bit of product promotion. I wanted it to do well, not just for Mei, but also because it was a product that would fatten my wallet.
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Odin's expression became quite serious. He hurriedly excused himself, saying he had an urgent call to make, and after a while, came back with two sandwiches, placing both in my hands.
'What's this?'
Bewildered by his kindness, I looked up at him. Odin spoke to me with a gentle expression I hadn't shown before.
"Thanks to you, I wasn't late in securing the stock. And to think that you were the designer of that revolutionary magic circle…."
I faltered at his words.
I wondered why Mei would tell him that. But apparently, it turns out she asked him fiercely, "Where did the information leak from?" as soon as he mentioned the Ogre No. 3.
'Ah, so he used my name…?'
Odin suddenly put on his businessman face and spoke kindly to me.
"It seems it would be best to communicate business matters through me for the time being. She also asked me to take good care of you. I think we could become good business partners, Mr. Chahyun."
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He continued speaking with rare excitement. Mei's Magic Shop had opened new horizons in the adult toy industry, and no one could match her technological prowess yet. My face flushed red as I watched him casually mention the names of various adult toy names without a hint of embarrassment. To think I'd be embarrassed by Mae's naming sense…
"…People can hear you. Lower your voice a bit. And please keep this a secret from my mercenary group."
"Of course."
He seems like a person with a split personality.
Uncomfortable with Odin's sudden change in demeanor, I avoided his gaze and finished the rest of the sandwiches.
Odin took me to the front of Haylan's mansion. And just like in the game's story, he said he would send me letters occasionally to update me on the situation.
"Aren't you going to see him?"
"No."
"Why? Where are you going now?"
"I have work to do. I'm returning to the trading company."
Right… as the head of a large trading company, he must be very busy.
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When I played the game, Odin wasn't a major character. I thought he was just an NPC who occasionally provided information, so it was a little strange and awkward to find out he was such an important figure.
"Mr. Odin, excuse me, but can I ask you one more thing?"
"Certainly. Anything."
Odin had become noticeably friendlier the moment he learned I was Mae's business partner. He answered all my questions patiently, even the bothersome ones.
"Why aren't you on good terms with Haylan? I wondered if there was a particular reason…."
"We don't get along."
He answered without hesitation. Such a quick answer. It seems they really don't get along….
Odin said he had to catch his train and turned to leave without even watching me enter the mansion.
"...."
I stood blankly in front of the gate, looking around, then walked along the wall and stopped in front of the secret passage. I didn't sense anyone's presence.
Press.
I reached out and pressed the doorbell hidden inside the mailbox and stood still for about five minutes, waiting for someone to come out.
"...?"
What? Why isn't anyone coming?
I opened the mailbox again and pressed the button firmly. But since it didn't make any sound, I couldn't tell if I had pressed it properly or not.
Is it broken?
Press, press, press, press, press, press.
I kept pressing the doorbell, trying different fingers, and finally saw someone coming out of the house.
'Oh, it's the woman who brought me food before.'
I felt a sense of familiarity with the woman who was approaching with a somewhat irritated gait and waved my hand.
"Do you remember me?"
"...."
The woman, who seemed to be the quiet type, just stared at me and nodded slightly.
"We received notice that you would be coming."
Ah, it was all arranged beforehand! It was nice that I didn't have to give a long explanation.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
As soon as I entered the mansion, the system window reminded me of reality. It told me to keep my wits about me because this was no easy place.
[198 new bad endings are predicted in the near future.]
"Wow, there were that many…."
My shoulders slumped slightly. That meant there were 198 ways for me to die in this house. Haylan, despite his appearance, was a very dangerous kid.
I unpacked my luggage in my pre-cleaned sweet room. Seeing that the positions of the items hadn't changed, it seemed no one had entered since I left.
'It's a safe zone, after all.'
No one can disturb me~
I hummed a silly tune, deciding to make myself comfortable in the room that would protect me from external threats.
Even the creaking sound of the bed felt like a sound effect. I jumped onto the bed and first brought up the task I had to do.
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[Main Quest: Let's Be Friends
Christine wants you to become friends with Haylan. Send the first monthly report to Odin.
*To Do: Achieve 100 affection points with Haylan
*Time Limit: One month
*Reward: Monthly salary, ???]
'Achieve 100 affection points in a month….'
Is that possible?
I checked Haylan's current affection points and,
"...."
I felt a little hurt…
[Haylan's current affection points are -103.]
Seeing the number already in the negative before I even started made me feel discouraged.
'Have his affection points ever gone up in the first place?'
I racked my brain and shook my head.
No… There wasn't. How could they not go up even once?'
Even after sharing my meal with him, his affection points had never increased.
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Haylan hadn't shown his face even once since I, the guest, had arrived. I could roughly guess the reason.
'The answer is clear just by looking at his affection points towards me, isn't it?'
Even the servants weren't very friendly towards me either. At this rate, the 198 bad endings were just around the corner!
'That can't happen.'
I stayed up all night at my desk, racking my brains trying to figure out a solution.